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SOOCHOW
A343
many important towns such as Kiating), Taitsang ( ), Changshu (**), Soochow (H), and Wusih), all of which are densely populated and possess rich agricultural products. Construction of this road was began as early as September 1933, and work was not finished until Au- gust, costing about $1,700,000. A new Ching Fan Highway () nained after the local ancient scholar and stateman Fan Chung-yen ( 1 ), was constructed in September, 1933, connecting the Tien Ping Hills () with the Lin An Hills (), thus providing much facility to the excursionists to these two famous hills. The Soochow Kashing Railway covering a distance of 75 kilometres, was com- pleted and formally opened to traffic in July. The construction of the Chung Shan Memorial Hall (#) was consummated in April, 1934, costing $40,000.00 a suin which was totally contributed by the citizens of the local community. It is a magnificent building and situated in the midst of the Yuan Miao h'uan (5), the commercial centre of the city. A new Y.M.C.A. building was opened in December, 1921. The Chinese and missionary schools date back to 1900. The Soochow Domestic Produce Company, situated in the centre of the city was opened in 1935. On New Year's day in 1931, a new city gate named "Chin Mên” (), replacing the Hsin Chang Mên and a little to the south of it, was opened to traffic. The city of Soochow has thus, in addition to the newly built "Ping Mên" (4), eight city-gates,' instead of six city gates as it had before. Recent years witnessed the growth of a great many modern banking institutions. Branch offices of Chinese modern banks established in this city and opened to business lately were the Ching Cheng Bank (7); The Shanghai Commercial and Savings Bank (L # **** (); The Chinese Manufacturers' Bank (fr); The Peasants Bank (R); The Oriental Bank (7); The National Industrial Bank of China (+ @***); and The China South Sea Bank ( † & 4);
TRADE IN 1935
The import into Soochow of foreign goods showed further increase from 2.6 million dollars to 3 million dollars, merchants, in order to avoid payment of wharfage and conservancy dues at Shanghai, transhipping their goods at that port and paying duty at Soochow as direct importations from abroad. The Customs statistics are in themselves an inadequate guide to the trade of Soochow, which is so closely connected with Shanghai by road, rail, junk, and launch, of which traffic the Customs takes cognizance only of the last named. The principal imports were as usual, sugar, artificial silk, and petroleum products. Importations of sugar totalled 145,919 quintals, a slight decrease of 3,000 quintals. Of artificial silk, 203,477 kilogrammes were imported, valued at $372,900, showing a 300 per cent. increase as compared with the figures for 1934. While smuggled goods are not totally absent, this improvement indicated that increased preventive activities have had beneficial effects. 2,346,101 litres of kerosene oil were imported as against 1,251,697 litres during the previous year. The increase in the importation of gasolene is even more striking, the figures for 1935 being 1,380,383 litres as against 133,879 litres in 1934. The trade in this article has naturally grown with the construction of the network of motor roads in and surround- ing the district. There was no direct export abroad of Chinese produce with the exception of small consignments by parcel post. The value of Chinese produce exported to Chinese ports was $266,675, showing a further decline of $96,228. The tea trade continues in a decline. The economic depression, which seriously affected the industries of the Soochow district in the previous year, continued to prevail, the new monetary policy of the Government bringing some relief in rising prices towards the close of the year. With the closing of the Jen Yu Stocking Factory, there are now 24 factories registered at the Custom House. The silk industry took an unexpected turn for the better, though the year opened poorly. At the beginning of the cocoon season the prices for cocoons and raw silk were only $36 and $570 per quintal respec- tively. The supply of raw silk, however, became inadequate to meet the demand in foreign markets, and prices rose steadily, cocoons and raw silk being quoted at $170 and $1,600 per quintal respectively in September and October. The number of filatures operating in Wusih during the year was 42 as against 35 for the previous year. The inauguration of motor-bus service on the various highways recently com- pleted has adversely affected the steam and motor launch passenger traffic. The construction of the road-bed of the Soochow-Kashing Highway is nearing completion, and the line is expected to be opened in the summer of 1936.